Life Cycle Assessment of Hearing Aid Devices: Environmental Impact Analysis and Improvement Opportunities

This research presents a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a modern behind-the-ear hearing aid system, with the objective of assessing its environmental impacts and identifying areas for improvement and innovation. The assessment, developed in compliance with ISO 14040/14044, included the entire product system—including accessories, packaging, use phase, and end-of-life treatment—over a period of five years. The results provide an in-depth evaluation of its freshwater ecotoxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, global warming, and fossil resource scarcity as key impact categories. Considerable environmental impacts were associated with certain components, manufacturing processes, and logistics. Strategies for improvement, including material replacement, increased component durability, packaging optimization, and sustainable sourcing of energy, were suggested. The investigation demonstrates how LCA can facilitate eco-design and sustainability in medical electronics. The findings of this work are derived from experimental modeling in an academic setting, which includes intrinsic uncertainties. The results emphasize the significance of using LCA as a strategic instrument to guide product development and to pinpoint opportunities for environmental improvement.